Opinions wanted on accepting payment on VRCC classifieds

[JimL]

I recently encountered a situation where I sold a product on the VRCC classifieds and received payment via a Western Union money order.  When it comes to individuals I do not know personally, I accept payment in three forms, USPS money order, cashiers check or personal check.  If someone sends me a personal check, I have a policy of waiting at least 5 business day for it to clear before shipping the product.

Possibly I'm just an assh*le, but the only type of money order that I feel is safe is from the USPS.  I have a policy of returning any other "money order" to the buyer.  Regardless of how polite I try to be, someone always becomes defensive and accuses me of being unreasonable. 

USPS money order are very hard to counterfeit and are easy to valid their authenticity.  Cashiers checks can be counterfeited, however they can be validated by calling the issuing bank and the only way this precaution can be defeated is if the scammer actually works in the bank itself.  I have spent a bit of time researching all of this and feel that this policy is the only way I can reduce my exposure to scammers.

Just curious how others handle this?

[eric in md]

your on the right track..  i use paypal or  usps money order..  cash is always nice .. **** unless you know the people i would take check ..

[PAVALKER]

I agree USPS Money Order or PayPal.... and with the way PayPal is conducting their business, I prefer USPS Money Order.  Makes it easy to cash the same time you ship something out (if you use the USPS).   

[Kaiser]

You have what they want.  You set the rules.  If they can't do the simple things you ask, move on the next person.  If one person wanted what you have, chances are somebody else out there will too.

The risk of potentially not finding another buyer is much less (IMHO) than cashing in a bad money order.

I was just on the other side of the coin.  The guy I was buying from would only take USPS money order.  Yeah, it was a pain to get one - but I wanted what he was selling, so I went through the hassle.

Just my .02 (and yes, that .02 is in the form of a USPS money order).

[hubcapsc]

I was just on the other side of the coin.  The guy I was buying from would only take USPS money order.  Yeah, it was a pain to get one - but I wanted what he was selling, so I went through the hassle.

I have two small town Post Offices I can go to without disrupting work... well, since they started opening at 10:00, it kind of disrupts lunch 

You must live where it is a drag to get to the Post Office, or long lines, or something...

I've missed out on at least two really cool Valkyrie parts because the sellers would only accept paypal, which I don't use... I always ask if Postal Money Order
is OK before I bid...

-Mike

[R J]

It is your mdse, you set the rules.

They no like, you don't want to deal with them.

[Spirited-6]

 Postal Money Order is the only way I pay. Jim you are not unreasonable. I remember buying a item from you and you would not take any money for it.   Sellers do pay a % using Pay Pal , so a Postal MO should work in most cases.

[Cliff]

I have personally seen very real looking fake money orders and cashiers checks.  On money cashiers checks I call the issuing bank directly to verifiy validity or hold merchandise until it comletely clears.  But most of the time I prefer paypal.  

[Chrisj CMA]

I will say this again........and also when this is no longer the way things are I will not be a member here or post anyhting or deal with anyone here.

I will accept a check and I will send the item as soon as the agreement is made if the person has a VRCC number.  (one exception would be the obvious crackpot emails you get wanting you to take a huge cashiers check and return a gob of money)  But I have never been wronged by a person from the classifieds that had a VRCC number, I always include my number when I answer an ad.

[donaldcc]

I will say this again........and also when this is no longer the way things are I will not be a member here or post anyhting or deal with anyone here.

I will accept a check and I will send the item as soon as the agreement is made if the person has a VRCC number.  (one exception would be the obvious crackpot emails you get wanting you to take a huge cashiers check and return a gob of money)  But I have never been wronged by a person from the classifieds that had a VRCC number, I always include my number when I answer an ad.

My feelings, exactly.

[Redline +]

I will say this again........and also when this is no longer the way things are I will not be a member here or post anyhting or deal with anyone here.

I will accept a check and I will send the item as soon as the agreement is made if the person has a VRCC number.  (one exception would be the obvious crackpot emails you get wanting you to take a huge cashiers check and return a gob of money)  But I have never been wronged by a person from the classifieds that had a VRCC number, I always include my number when I answer an ad.

I felt that way too...until I got screwed. It's easy to get a VRCC number and list parts. I no longer share your warm and fuzzy feeling about the classifieds.

Redline 

[asfltdncr]

Call me stupid (and many already do) but I hang it out there and trust our members with a check.  I guess PayPal would be one of the safest means of payment.

[elraque]

If you have the Western Union money order in hand, take it to the local Western Union place and have them verify its authenticity (and guarantee that YOU will be paid, and that if it is NOT legitimate that YOU will NOT be charged).

This seems like the simplest, easiest way. Kind of like taking a personal (or business) check to the bank on which it is drawn and presenting it for payment. That bank (or in this case, Western Union, who is the issuing entity) will either make payment on the account held by the issuer with them, or will tell you that they will not make payment to you. Either way, you get a fast, simple, straight answer.

Just my $.02 (and NO, I DON'T have a USPS money order for that $.02)

[rockrat]

When I go to a  persons bank to cash their check, I ask "if this check is good, I would like to cash it".  From my understanding, even if it turns out to be bad, since you asked if it was good, the burden is on the bank if it turns out bad.    It was my understanding that if you just went in and asked to cash it and they did and it was bad, they could come back on you.

I much prefer USPS MO's too

[Russell Rice]

I parted out a 97 Valk and the only forms of payment I would accept was USPS money order & PayPal. If it is a leget transaction the other party will not mind getting a USPS money order if they do not use PayPal.
It is your item that YOU are selling, do not be guilted into doing something that you are not comfortable doing.
Just my two cents

[98valk]

payment can be stopped before it clears on any personel check, cashiers check, or certified check, talk to the bank manager and they will confirm this.
The only safe way is USPS money order as u requested.

[Chattanooga Mark]

I prefer Cash, USPS Money Order and PayPal, in that order.

All the best,

Mark

[Tundra]

I personaly don't care for PayPal. I do have an account set up for purchases that require it. If someone wanting to purchase from you claims they do not have an account, It really only takes a minute to set it up.  I use it for last resort, when I do not have a choice.
  If they don't want to play by YOUR rules, they can go elsewhere. It's YOUR sale, you control it.

[9Ball]

I will say this again........and also when this is no longer the way things are I will not be a member here or post anyhting or deal with anyone here.

I will accept a check and I will send the item as soon as the agreement is made if the person has a VRCC number.  (one exception would be the obvious crackpot emails you get wanting you to take a huge cashiers check and return a gob of money)  But I have never been wronged by a person from the classifieds that had a VRCC number, I always include my number when I answer an ad.

+2

Over the past 10 years I've bought and sold a lot of things to members here and have never had an issue with payment.  Any payment method is fine with me.  Paypal seems to be the quickest, but you pay for the service as the receiver.

[hubcapsc]

I personaly don't care for PayPal. I do have an account set up for purchases that require it. If someone wanting to purchase from you claims they do not have an account, It really only takes a minute to set it up.  I use it for last resort, when I do not have a choice.
  If they don't want to play by YOUR rules, they can go elsewhere. It's YOUR sale, you control it.

My paypal account was easy to set up, and I used the flop out of it for about 10 years...
There's something called a "sending limit", I guess it was in the small print when I set it up...
After using the account for years, one day I hit the "sending limit" (you can google "sending limit, paypal")
and they cut me off... I can't use paypal anymore unless I "link my bank account" to them,
or get one of their credit cards.

Hell will freeze over first.

-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

When someone from ebay or paypal (cant be sure) tried to steal money through my paypal account...I was fortunate enough to notice it quickly and got it reversed.  However, the card company said this is not unusual for people to get ripped off through paypal like that.  I cancelled that card and have never logged into my pay pal account since.  I got the annual account security email today LOL deleted it....never again for me and paypal

[stude31]

Jim,

I think you did the right thing.  I agree with some others that have posted.  If you really want the item you will do what the seller asks for payment.  I have done cashier checks (which can be canceled as well), paypal (won't use again was hacked three weeks ago and refuse to use it again), and cash.  But, ask ENGEMT about cashier checks and all that....   He had a helluva time buying his bike in Rhode Island due to the seller only wanting "cash" and he didn't want to have that much on hand during the flight out so he got a cashier check and had all kinds of problems.  I think he ended up having the money wired to the bank up their....   So online purchases can be hectic but it's up to the buyer to accommodate or look elsewhere, in my opinion. 

I must say a fellow member here responded to a "want ad" of mine regarding baker wings for the I/S.  He shipped them to me before I paid for them.  And then I didn't get around to getting my oem's off and sending them to him and some cash until after we moved to our house.  I felt terrible that he would take the risk and send out merchandise that he didn't get paid for yet, and I was late on my side to make the transaction so I sent him an extra 25 bucks cause I felt bad.  So I can see it both ways but if you have been burned before then I can understand playing things safe. 

I will tell you this Jim... If they are being a$$holes then obviously it was a good thing to just move on and sell it to someone else cause if they are like that now... oh my I would hate to see what could have happened. 

[JimL]

Lots of good feedback which is greatly appreciated.  As I read through the responses it became clear that there are various philosophies on how to conduct business and it is not for me to say which are right or wrong.  I can only say what is right or wrong for me.  USPS money seems to be a very popular means of exchange, which also supports the research I have done on the matter.

In some regards, every transaction is unique and ultimately it is up to the buyer and seller to come to an agreement on what works for both parties.  If they can't reach agreement, they should simply walk away without any hard feelings.

[Kaiser]

When someone from ebay or paypal (cant be sure) tried to steal money through my paypal account...I was fortunate enough to notice it quickly and got it reversed.  However, the card company said this is not unusual for people to get ripped off through paypal like that.  I cancelled that card and have never logged into my pay pal account since.  I got the annual account security email today LOL deleted it....never again for me and paypal

Same here.  Some bum tried to rack up several thousand dollars worth of purchases at the iTunes store using my hacked PayPal info.  There was an entire thread on this board a few months back warning people about this issue.

I canceled the card and have no intentions of ever again using PayPal again.

[Jabba]

much like Jim L. did... I ask the forum for a reference if I don't KNOW them from the board.

I have bought AND sold stuff on here on a digital handshake.  Being on both sides of it... it's always been nothing but good for me. 

I bought my IS with a Cashiers Check that I brought with me on the plane.  I had talked to the seller MANY times, he had my telephone numbers at home AND work, and emails, and even my personal business website. 

Jabba